Ray is on quite the role today of stupid observations and statements.
The first is "Today's thought" where in one sentence he provides a stunning non sequitur:
"Science is the mere uncovering of the handiwork of Almighty God."
This of course begs the question of whether this universe is "the handiwork of Almighty God". Secondly, how would cancer research fit into this wonderful "handiwork"? Ray claims god left us a book....yet the book includes no instructions as to how to fix our bodies when the design fails. Thanks "Almight God"!
Ray's second "thought" today entitled "Mindless Question" contains a mindless reply:
"lonomoholo said...To Christians: Is there any evidence you can offer to show that the soul is real? Anything credible that is, without the fallback to quoting the Bible."
One question for you. Can you email me any evidence you can offer to show that atheism is real? Anything credible that is, without the fallback of using a computer or any transmitting device. Why do you fear the Bible?"
Easy, Ray, there is lots of evidence that people do not believe in gods. Atheism is a mental construct, a disagreement some people have with people who claim that there are gods. No one said that "atheism" was a "thing" that exists. We can also construct hypothetical objects such as "dragons" or "pixies" in our mind. These are mental images of hypothetical physical objects that could exist...but no evidence has been offered to demonstrate this. A "soul" is similarly claimed by religious people to be some sort of physical (some have tried to weigh it by weighing a body before and directly after death) or non-physical "thing" (whatever that means) that actually inhabits our bodies, gives us our "personhood" and survives our death, leaving our body and floating either to heaven or hell. The question of what a soul is and whether it exists is a legitimate question just as it is a legitimate question to ask people who believe in pixies to provide some rational justification. What does Ray offer? Ridicule. To him it is "mindless" to ask for evidence for religious claims. Interesting. Any thinking person will find it "mindless" to claim that something definitely exists despite there being no evidence either way. Agnosticism in this case is a necessity. I can't anymore prove there is a soul than I can disprove it. But I am not making the claim that it does-Christians do. Notice Ray asks a silly question at the end: Why do you fear the Bible? What does asking whether there is evidence for a "soul" have to do with "fearing the Bible"? Does Ray mean, "why don't you trust the Bible"? Or maybe, "why don't you fear the Bible enough to just accept what we are telling you?" Anyways, this has been another "mindless" day over at Rayville.
"To talk of immaterial existences is to talk of nothings. To say that the human soul, angels, god, are immaterial, is to say they are nothings, or that there is no god, no angels, no soul. I cannot reason otherwise...without plunging into the fathomless abyss of dreams and phantasms. I am satisfied, and sufficiently occupied with the things which are, without tormenting myself about those which may indeed be, but of which I have no evidence."
--Thomas Jefferson
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Anything credible that is, without the fallback of using a computer or any transmitting device.
ReplyDeleteAt first my reaction to this was, WTF? Then I thought about it and I think he is saying that using the Bible is like using a computer to transmit a message, which is a ridiculously bad analogy. (And I still thought WTF? on further reflection.)
It's also a frustrating example of Ray's inability to answer a question directly rather than throwing the issue back at the questioner and jumbling all the issues to the point that discussion is impossible.
You've got to admire the fact that Ray editted his post to add a caveat after he'd recieved several posts all making the same blindingly obvious point. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteYou've got to admire the fact that Ray editted his post to add a caveat after he'd recieved several posts all making the same blindingly obvious point. Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteIt is really irritating that he continually edits his posts without mentioning it, so the first few replies often look like they are addressing something completely different.
It isn't so bad in this case, but a couple of times he's had a quote up there then changed it to a completely different quote after people started commenting on it. Then some Raytards come along not knowing this happened and start chastising the initial commenters for not making any sense.
"Whether you believe it or not, the Bible is God's revelation to humanity. It's only there that you will find explanations of what the soul is--its Creator, its very essence, its eternal destiny, etc. The word is used 432 times in Scripture, so if you are seeking truth, why do you censure the Bible?"
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, a circular argument from authority has been added...how doesn't this strengthen Ray's argument?? What a slapnut.